Berlin, Freshconex, 6-8 February 2012 Fifth European short-course on fresh-cut produce

The annual short-course on fresh-cut produce will be held in Berlin this year, together with Freshconex/FruitLogistica. The 3-day course will start on the afternoon of Monday February 6, will go on through all Tuesday, and will finish on Wednesday morning (February 8) just in time to start visiting the Expositions.

Eminent scientists and industry representatives will cover the main aspects related to quality, safety, and technology of fresh-cut produce. A great chance for state-of-the-art training with full interaction and associated networking events.

November 30 is the deadline for registering at reduced price.

For all information (contents, schedule, logistic, etc.) please visit the Course website at http://www.agraria.unifg.it/postharvest or send an email to postharvest@unifg.it or call +39 320 4394535.

To download the registration form click here.

As for previous editions the course will be limited to 100 participants and it will be handled on a first-come, first registered basis.

Georgia - 2012 Master Gardener Training Class, Starts Jan. 24th

For those who love gardening whether a novice or an experienced plant lover, the Master Gardener training class begins January 24th. Classes will be held at the Lake Mayer Community Center and the Bamboo Farm. The class meets from nine to noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays and concludes May 24th. The course is open to Chatham and surrounding county residents.

The Master Gardener class is sponsored by the University of Georgia Extension Office and covers a wide range of topics such as soils, turf, fertilizers, organic farming, xerospace methods, herbs, vegetable gardening, plant propagation, native plants and habitats, irrigation, mulching, pruning and features guest speakers from throughout the State. The course includes field trips and hands on experiences.

Cost: $145.00 – Covers all books and materials
Registration information can be found for all area residents below:
For more information about registration, contact Dave Linville, Chatham County Cooperative Extension Horticulture Agent at 912 652 7981 or dlinville@uga.ed
Bryan County Extension - http://www.bryanextension.org/ or call (912) 653-2231
Liberty County Extension - 912-876-2133
Effingham County Extension - 912-754-8040
UGA Extension (main site) http://extension.uga.edu/

Graduates may become a member of the Coastal Master Gardeners Association who provide volunteer hours for projects such as Habitat for Humanity landscaping, caring for old camellias at Bonaventure Cemetery, working for the Botanical Garden on Eisenhower Drive, teaching at the “Roots and Shoots” program for area school children at Bamboo Farms, and other gardening venues benefitting the community. The Association meets throughout the year with informative gardening presentations and to socialize and swap plants with other gardeners.

Botswana: Horticulture incubator in full production

The Botswana Gazette reports: "The construction of the Glen Valley Horticulture Incubator is finally complete and the first seedlings have been planted in net shades houses. The structures include greenhouses, tunnels and net shade houses. The incubator, which is a public property managed by the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA), is intended to promote and develop horticulture enterprises. LEA’s Chief executive Officer, Dr Tebogo Matome told Business Gazette that although the construction of the incubator is complete, the contractor is still on site taking care of minor touch-ups to the administration building."

The LEA’s Glen Valley project will serve farmers with seedlings and offer short and long term .

Read full article here: The Botswana Gazette

2012 Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Training

A few slots are open for the 2012 Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener volunteer training.

Beginning Feb. 7, training will be offered for Licking County residents. The Master Gardener Volunteer Program provides an extensive course in horticulture in exchange for a donation of volunteer hours to share gardening knowledge with others through OSU Extension-sponsored activities.

Training will be 10 consecutive Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information is available at licking.osu. edu under the Master Gardener Volunteers tab. You can print an application and mail it or drop it off.

The address is: Lori Swihart, Licking County Master Gardener Coordinator, Ohio State University Extension, 771 E. Main St., Suite 103, Newark, OH 43055.

Haywood County Cooperative Extension Center - Master Gardener Program

The Haywood County Cooperative Extension Center is now accepting applications for the popular Master Gardener program.

The Master Gardener training class will begin in January and run through April. The class meets from 9 a.m. till noon on Wednesdays. The cost of the program, including training materials, is $85.

To become a Master Gardener, volunteer participants must complete the entire class and participate in 40 hours of volunteer work through the N.C. Cooperative Service Extension center.

There are currently 120 active Master Gardeners in Haywood County. These Master Gardeners contribute thousands of hours each year through Cooperative Extension programs, and by answering gardening questions through a plant clinic hotline.

Contact phone number: 828.456.3575.

Iowa State University Master Gardener Training

Master Gardener training for the ISU Extension Region 7 (Hamilton, Humboldt, Webster and Wright counties) will begin January 17.

To register for the training, contact Yvonne McCormick at 832-9597 or e-mail her at Yvonne@iastate.edu for further information on the program.

Missouri: Get free six-week training to teach Eating from the Garden curriculum

Classes are coming up for nutrition and gardening enthusiasts who want to teach the Eating from the Garden curriculum at local schools and community centers.

The free six-week training sessions will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on:

• Aug. 12 and Aug. 19 at the MU Extension Center at Pioneer Community College, 2700 E. 18th St.
• Aug. 26 and Sept. 2 at Kansas City Community Gardens, 6917 Kensington Ave.
• Sept. 9 and Sept. 16 at the MU Extension Center, 1106 W. Main St., Blue Springs

Volunteers will receive university training in nutrition, food safety, food preparation, fruit and vegetable production, use of natural fertilizers, pest control and other practical gardening skills.

Once trained, the volunteers teach lessons in nutrition, plant science, hands-on gardening and environmental awareness to encourage fourth and fifth grade children to eat more fruits and vegetables. They also help community groups establish fruit and vegetable gardens.

To apply, contact Molly Fusselman, MU Extension horticulture educator, at fusselmanm@missouri.edu or 816-252-5051.

Master Gardener - Train to become a Pender County Master Gardener

Would you like to be a more successful gardener? Do you want to understand the science of gardening? Are you interested in sharing your knowledge with others? If so, become a Master Gardener volunteer. Master Gardener volunteers enjoy gardening and desire to share their passion and knowledge with others. Master Gardeners volunteer with their local Cooperative Extension’s horticulture outreach program. The first step in becoming a Master Gardener is to attend Master Gardener training, which begins Aug. 18 for Pender County residents. Read more>

Special Populations develops Horticultural Therapy Program

www.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com

The city of Cape Coral's Special Populations program has developed a Horticultural Therapy Program for its participants to teach the benefits of gardening. The participants in the Adult Day Training program are cultivating basil and mint, lima beans, cantaloupe, peanuts, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes and sunflowers. They are responsible for tending to the crops and harvesting them at the appropriate time.

The Special Pops horticulture areas are located in the courtyards at the Freida B. Smith Special Populations Center at 400 Santa Barbara Blvd., next to Lake Kennedy Senior Center. One courtyard has a ground bed, and the other courtyard has container gardens.

The Horticultural Therapy Program provides the opportunity for the Special Pops participants to learn about gardening and watch as herbs, fruits and vegetables grow from bare grounds and containers in the courtyards. The group uses natural mulch and collects rain in barrels for watering. They also learn about sunlight and nutrient requirements; weeding and pruning; and watching weather conditions to know how much water and sun a particular crop requires.

The group already harvested its first crops of basil, mint and lima beans, which were provided to Pops Caf - the cafeteria in the Cape Coral City Hall. The herbs and vegetables are used in some of the home-made recipes prepared at the caf.

The city of Cape Coral's Parks & Recreation Department is responsible for the Special Populations Program, which provides continuing education, employment training and recreation for persons with developmental disabilities.

For more information on the Special Pops program, citizens can call 239-574-0574.